Grandma's Coffee Cake

This is a yummy recipe from Grandma Sullivan's kitchen.  I remember her making this every year during the fall cattle round up.  I don't think it is one she created but it is one I credit to her because that is where I got the recipe. 

Grandma's Coffee Cake

18 Rhodes frozen rolls

1 small package Butterscotch Cook and Server pudding (must be Cook and serve variety not instant)

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 stick melted margarine or butter

Grease a bundt pan really well.  Place frozen rolls in the bottom of the pan.  Sprinkle butterscotch pudding over the rolls.  Sprinkle brown sugar over rolls.  Pour butter evenly over the rolls.  Cover with plastic wrap and let raise for 6-8 hours (grandma always made this just before she went to bed and would put it in the oven when she got up in the morning)  or until the rolls reach the top of the pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.  Invert on a large plate and take off bundt pan.

Enjoy!

Mexican Casserole

If I am looking through a magazine and find a recipe that catches my eye I always write it down.  I am a Mexican food lover and this just looked so yummy.  This recipe is courtesy of Taste of Home magazine April/May 2008 and the recipe was submitted by David Mills.

Mexican Casserole

1 1/2 lb ground beef

1 envelope taco seasoning

3/4 cup water

1 can (16 oz) refried beans

1/2 cup salsa

6 flour tortillas (6 inch size)

2 cups frozen corn, thawed

2 cups (8 oz) shredded cheddar cheese

Shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, sliced ripe olives and sour cream, optional

In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain.  stir in taco seasoning and water.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered for 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a microwave safe bowl, combine the beans and salsa.  Cover and microwave for 1-2 minutes or until spreadable.

Place three tortillas in a greased round 2 1/2 quart baking dish.  Layer with half of the beef, bean mixture, corn and cheese; repeat layers.

Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until cheese is melted.  Let stand for 5 minutes.  serve with lettuce, tomatoes, olive and sour cream if desired.

*** I think you could make this work in a slow cooker too.

Cassie's Cookies

My friend and future roommate (end of September) Cassie made some amazing cookies about a month ago and I asked her for the recipe.  She is a better woman and cook than me apparently and was able to ramble it off as I stood in her office at work.  This recipe is a great base to mix in your favorite chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, a variety of nuts or M&M's.  

I made 2 batches for a potluck a week ago and took quite a few to work.  The M& M variety went quicker but I put walnuts in with the chocolate chips variety and I learned quite a few people don't like that or are allergic to nuts.  It was also interesting to see the different in the way the cookies turned out.  I mixed them at the same time in bowls that were right next to each other on the counter.  The M& M were "flatter" while the Chocolate Chip w/ walnuts stayed plump.  I'm not a baking expert and they both tasted good so I'll leave the reasoning to the chemists of the world.

Anyway...On with the recipe...

3/4 cup sugar

1 1/2 cup brown sugar

1 1/4 cup crisco (I used the butter flavor...in my mind it makes a difference)

2 large eggs

Mix the above ingredents together.

Add:

3 1/2 cups Flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Mix together and add baking chips of your choice or chocolate candies and nuts if you choose.

Bake at 350 degrees for 7-10 minutes.

Arlo's Carmel Corn

I got this recipe from a former boss of mine at Press-A-Print.  Recently Tiff asked me if I had a carmel corn recipe and luckily I had saved the email that Arlo sent it to me in.  If you like soft, gooey carmel corn you will love this recipe.

Arlo's Carmel Corn

2 cups brown sugar

2 cups corn syrup

Bring to a boil in a medium sauce pan, stirring frequently

1 cup butter 

Make sure you use butter and not margarine, it tastes better and it works best

Let the butter melt completely, stirring frequently

Add:

1 can sweetened condensed milk

Let it all melt together and pour over popped popcorn.

I used microwave popcorn and for this recipe about 7-8 bags works great.

ENJOY!!

School Lunch Peanut Butter Squares

Ok, so I was block snooping again.  Apparently my life is too boring so I have to read about what is happening with other people that I don't know but it is like 2 degrees of seperation through people I do know. Anyway,  I was THRILLED to find this recipe today while snooping, just the idea of these peanut butter squares brings back memories of elementary school and junior high at Terreton. Having an extra dime in your pocket to enjoy a yummy peanut butter square was a great day. 

School Lunch Peanut Butter Squares

½ cup melted butter
1 ½ cups peanut butter
2 ½ cups crushed graham crackers
1 cup powdered sugar

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Mix well. Take out and press into a greased pan and cool in a refrigerator for ½ hour. Melt down 1 – 12 oz. bag of chocolate chips and spread over the top of the peanut butter mixture. (I like less chocolate so I use about half the bag) Place in the fridge for about 10-20 minutes and cut into squares before chocolate completely hardens. Keep in the fridge in between eatings so it doesn't melt.

Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad

2 chicken breasts

1/3- 1/2 c cranberries

1/3 to 1/2 c walnuts

4 Tbsp light or fat free mayo

Grill chicken with salt and pepper.  Let cool for about 10 minutes and cut into bite size cubes.  Stir together with cranberries, walnuts and mayo.  Serve with pita chips.  I like the Stacy's Whole Wheat variety.  Note: I don't recommend using Miracle Whip instead of mayo in this recipe because it messes with the flavor.

***I love this recipe.  I used to buy South Beach diet meals in the cooler section at the store but decided it made more sense and was much more cost effective to make a large portion of this and divide it up for lunches.  Please keep in mind that the measurements on everything is an estimate because I just pour things into the bowl until it looks good to me.  I haven't tried this with pecans yet but since I love them too I'm sure it would be quite tasty.

Enjoy!